In medieval weaponry, the breastplate is the front portion of plate
armour covering the torso. It has been a military mainstay since ancient times and was usually made of leather, bronze or iron in antiquity. By around 1000 AD, solid plates had fallen out of use in Europe and knights of the period were wearing chain mail in the form of a hauberk over a padded tunic.
[1] Plates protecting the torso reappeared during the 13th century in the form of the cuirass or alternatively as plates directly attached to a knightly garment known as the surcoat.
[1] Around 1300 this developed into the Coat of Plates which continued to be in use for about a century.
[1] True breastplates reappear in Europe in 1340 first composed of wrought iron and later of steel.They were between 1 mm and 2.5 mm strong.
[2] In order to prevent the wearer from bring cut by their own armour, the design featured outward turned edges that also increased stiffness.
[2] In some cases, further strength was added by a ridge running down through the centre of the plate.
[2] These early breastplates only covered the upper torso with the lower torso not being protected by plate until the development of the fauld around 1400.
[2] Around 1450, the breastplate had expanded to cover the entire torso and could consist of one or two plates.Bullet-proof vests are the modern descendant of the breastplate.
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